Chronic idiopathic ulcerative colitis. Pregnancy and fetal outcome.

Many frequently cited studies of the interaction of chronic idiopathic ulcerative colitis (CIUC) and pregnancy were performed in the 1950s before pharmacotherapy for this disease was common. We retrospectively reviewed obstetrical records at a large maternity facility to determine the effects of CIUC on pregnancy and on fetal outcome. We observed that the prevalence of CIUC in pregnant women was below that expected based on published data (P less than 0.01). The use of prednisone and sulfasalazine in pregnant women with CIUC was common; 85% of these patients received these medications. We found significantly greater (P less than 0.01) incidence of low-birth-weight in infants (less than 2500 g) of mothers with CIUC than in the control population. The delivery of infants of low birth weight occurred despite adequate maternal weight gain.